Recommend me a cheap but durable DDR dance pad

[Rictor]

My wife and I are trying to play DDR several times a week in an attempt to lose weight. Unforutnately, the cheap DDR 1 inch foam pads I got off Ebay aren't holding up to heavy use. One of them ripped at the zipper...I taped it up, but then the right arrow stopped working for no particular reason. This was after using the thing maybe 10 hours total over the course of a couple months. My original PS1 DDR pad is holding up fine but the lack of foam is hard on my ankles with all the jumping.

I was thinking of grabbing a couple of metal pads off Ebay as they're around $100 a pop on there, but I have the feeling they'd be of the same crappy quality as the foam pads I got.

Anyone have any suggestions for metal pads they have bought off Ebay and used a lot or thick foam pads they bought cheap and got a lot of use out of? I'm trying to avoid paying $90 a pop for Red Octane foam Ignition pads.

[seththefallen]

Those ignition pads are really worth it though. The only thing I could suggest is homebrew. There are plenty of websites that will tell you how to mod one of those crappy fabric pads and turn it into a sturdy foam/wood/metal one.

[Pijaibros]

I just get a $20 cheapie pad and tape it down to an office mat. I can clear 9 footers for months. Usually last me a good while depending on how often I use it.

I'd probably play more if I had someone else that could goad me on. I usually play every other day.

[banpeikun]

i have a friend who bought a metal pad off ebay that broke.